The scene at yesterday's Otsego County board meeting in Cooperstown to discuss hydrofracking: Beefed-up security, a crammed-to-the-gills county building, and people being turned away at the door.
Andrew Minnig of Cherry Valley said his first concern was that only some of the people who'd come to speak were allowed into the room, while others could be heard clapping in an adjacent corridor and still others remained outside.
Later in the meeting, [county board chairman Sam] Dubben announced that all will be allowed to speak at a public forum on gas drilling starting at 6 p.m. July 21 at the Cooperstown county courthouse.
Local opposition to gas drilling was apparently well on display at the meeting, which was dominated by anti-drilling sentiment. But the anti-drillers are facing an uphill battle: Dubben himself has signed a gas lease.
The county board commissioner listened to the speakers, but has signed a gas lease himself. He says that while any drilling must be safe drilling, the economic impact would be a positive one.
"We're just like any of the other farmers. We're cash broke. And we need every network we can to survive," said Floyd "Sam" Dubben (R - Otsego Co. Board Chairman).
